SWEEPING changes are being made to the Methodist church in County Durham this month in a bid to stem shrinking congregations and chapel closures.

The creation of the West Durham Circuit, with 19 chapels, will stretch from Ferryhill to Ireshopeburn, making it one of the biggest in England.

The Reverend Les Hann, who has left for Haltwhistle, in Northumberland, is being replaced by the Reverend Roland Wilkinson, a deacon, who was born in Hartlepool.

He is to be joined by the Reverend Ann Shepherdson, from Stockton, who will be in charge of the circuit and will be based in Crook, and the Reverend John Bower, based in Spennymoor, and who will be responsible for the Ferryhill and Sedgefield area.

Some Methodist congregations have expressed concern about the set-up.

Jean Proud, a senior church steward in Weardale, said: "We have no problem with not having a minister for the first time, because a deacon carries out the same duties as a minister.

"But because of the extent of the area involved, it's going to be a tremendous challenge to get it all to work."

Mrs Proud, who has been a steward for nearly 35 years, worships at High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn, the oldest chapel in continuous use in Britain.

She said: "It's a sad reflection, but a fact of life that we are now faced with falling numbers in congregations, not just here in the dale, but nationally.

"We can only hope this new set-up will halt this trend."

The Reverend Graham Carter, of Darlington, who was recently appointed national president of the Methodist Conference, said: "Initially, we had thought of creating an even larger circuit, but there were concerns about one minister having to care for too wide an area.

"This new circuit means that all three areas it covers will have its own minister or deacon. This will enable the church to operate with a greater flexibility and with more resources."